Valid and Subsisting R.A. No.

9266 Provisions
on the Signing and Sealing of Architectural Documents and the
Mandates under Law for All Officials of the National and Local Governments
to Implement and Enforce the Law
Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila
Twelfth Congress
Third Regular Session
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-eight day of July, two thousand three.
Republic Act No. 9266 March !" 2##$
AN ACT PR%&'('N) *%R A M%R+ R+SP%NS'&+ AN( C%MPR+,+NS'&+ R+)-.AT'%N *%R T,+
R+)'STRAT'%N" .'C+NS'N) AN( PRACT'C+ %* ARC,'T+CT-R+" R+P+A.'N) *%R T,+ P-RP%S+
R+P-/.'C ACT N%. 0$0" AS AM+N(+(" %T,+R1'S+ 2N%1N AS 3AN ACT T% R+)-.AT+ T,+
PRACT'C+ %* ARC,'T+CT-R+ 'N T,+ P,'.'PP'N+S"3 AN( *%R %T,+R P-RP%S+S.
Be it enacted by the Senate and ouse of !epresentatives of the "hilippines in #on$ress assembled:
ART'C.+ '
)+N+RA. PR%&'S'%N
S+CT'%N . Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Architecture Act of 2!."
S+CT'%N 2. Statement of Polic. - The "tate recogni#es the i$%ortance of architects in nation building and
de&elo%$ent. 'ence, it shall de&elo% and nurture co$%etent, &irtuous, %roducti&e and well-rounded %rofessional
architects whose standards of practice and ser&ice shall be e(cellent, )ualitati&e, world-class and globally
co$%etiti&e through in&iolable, honest, effecti&e and credible licensure e(a$inations and through regulator4
5easures" progra5s and acti6ities that foster their professional growth and de6elop5ent.
S+CT'%N 7. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following ter$s shall be defined as follows:
*+, "Architecture" is the art, science or %rofession of planning" designing and constructing buildings
in their totalit4 ta8ing into account their en6iron5ent" in accordance with the principles of utilit4"
strength and beaut4-
*2, "Architect" $eans a %erson %rofessionally and acade$ically )ualified, registered and licensed
under this Act with a Certificate of Registration and Professional 'dentification Card issued b4 the
Professional Regulator4 /oard of Architecture and the Professional Regulation Co55ission, and
who is res%onsible for ad&ocating the fair and sustainable de&elo%$ent, welfare and cultural e(%ression of
society.s habitat in ter$s of s%ace, for$s and historical conte(t-
*a, "Architect9of9record" $eans the architect registered and licensed under this Act" who is
directl4 and professionall4 responsible for the total design of the pro:ect for the client and
who shall assu5e the ci6il liabilit4 for the plans" specifications and contract docu5ents
he;she has signed and sealed- (((
*/, ")eneral Practice of Architecture" $eans the act of %lanning and architectural designing, structural
conce%tuali#ation, s%ecifying, su%er&ising and gi&ing general ad$inistration and res%onsible direction to
the erection, enlarge$ent or alterations of buildings and building en&iron$ents and architectural design in
engineering structures or any %art thereof- the scientific, aesthetic and orderly coordination of all the
%rocesses which enter into the %roduction of a co$%lete building or structure %erfor$ed through the
$ediu$ of unbiased %reli$inary studies of %lans, consultations, s%ecifications, conferences, e&aluations,
in&estigations, contract docu$ents and oral ad&ice and directions regardless of whether the %ersons
engaged in such %ractice are residents of the 0hili%%ines or ha&e their %rinci%al office or %lace of business
in this country or another territory, and regardless of whether such %ersons are %erfor$ing one or all these
duties, or whether such duties are %erfor$ed in %erson or as the directing head of an office or
organi#ation %erfor$ing the$-
*!, "Scope of the Practice of Architecture" enco$%asses the %ro&ision of %rofessional ser&ices in
connection with site, %hysical and %lanning and the design, construction, enlarge$ent, conser&ation,
reno&ation, re$odeling, restoration or alteration of a building or grou% of buildings. "er&ices $ay include,
but are not li$ited to:
*a, %lanning, architectural designing and structural conce%tuali#ation-
*b, consultation, consultancy, gi&ing oral or written ad&ice and directions, conferences,
e&aluations, in&estigations, )uality sur&eys, a%%raisals and ad1ust$ents, architectural and
o%erational %lanning, site analysis and other %re-design ser&ices-
*c, sche$atic design, design de&elo%$ent, contract docu$ents and construction %hases including
%rofessional consultancies-
*d, %re%aration of %reli$inary, technical, econo$ic and financial feasibility studies of %lans,
$odels and %ro1ect %ro$otional ser&ices-
*e, %re%aration of architectural %lans, s%ecifications, bill of $aterials, cost esti$ates, general
conditions and bidding docu$ents-
*f, construction and %ro1ect $anage$ent, gi&ing general $anage$ent, ad$inistration,
su%er&ision, coordination and res%onsible direction or the %lanning, architectural designing,
construction, reconstruction, erection, enlarge$ent or de$olition, reno&ation, re%air, orderly
re$o&al, re$odeling, alteration, %reser&ation or restoration of buildings or structures or co$%le(
buildings, including all their co$%onents, sites and en&irons, intended for %ri&ate or %ublic use-
*g, the %lanning, architectural lay-outing and utili#ation of s%aces within and surrounding such
buildings or structures, housing design and co$$unity architecture, architectural interiors and
s%ace %lanning, architectural detailing, architectural lighting, acoustics, architectural lay-outing of
$echanical, electrical, electronic, sanitary, %lu$bing, co$$unications and other utility syste$s,
e)ui%$ent and fi(tures-
*h, building %rogra$$ing, building ad$inistration, construction arbitration and architectural
conser&ation and restoration-
*i, all works which relate to the scientific, aesthetic and orderly coordination of all works and
branches of the work, syste$s and %rocess necessary for the %roduction of a co$%lete building or
structure, whether for %ublic or %ri&ate use, in order to enhance and safeguard life, health and
%ro%erty and the %ro$otion and enrich$ent of the )uality of life, the architectural design of
engineering structures or any %art thereof- and
*1, all other works, %ro1ects and acti&ities which re)uire the %rofessional co$%etence of an
architect, including teaching of architectural sub1ects and architectural co$%uter-aided design-
*2, ""tructural 3once%tuali#ation" $eans the act of concei&ing, choosing and de&elo%ing the ty%e,
dis%osition, arrange$ent and %ro%ortioning of the structural ele$ents of an architectural work gi&ing due
consideration to safety, cost-effecti&eness, functionality and aesthetics-
*4, "Authorship" refers to the author or authors of a set of architectural plans or specifications who
are in charge of their preparation, whether $ade by the$ %ersonally or under their i$$ediate
su%er&ision-(((
ART'C.+ ''
PR%*+SS'%NA. R+)-.AT%R< /%AR( %* ARC,'T+C-R+ ===
S+CT'%N !. Po!ers and "unctions of the #oard. - The Board shall e(ercise the following s%ecific %owers,
functions and res%onsibilities:
*a, 0rescribe and ado%t the rules and regulations necessary for carrying out the %ro&isions of this Act-
*b, Super6ise the registration, licensure and practice of architects- (((
*f, Monitor the conditions affecting the practice of architecture and adopt such 5easures as 5a4 be
dee5ed proper for the enhance5ent and 5aintenance of high professional" ethical and technical
standards of the profession-
*g, 0rescribe and5or ado%t the 3ode of 6thical 3onduct and Standards of Professional Practice- (((
*n, 7ischarge such other duties and functions as $ay be dee5ed necessar4 for the enhance5ent of
the architecture profession and the u%grading, de&elo%$ent and growth of the architecture education.
(((
ART'C.+ '''
+>AM'NAT'%N" R+)'STRAT'%N AN( .'C+NS-R+ ===
S+CT'%N 2#. Seal$ %ssuance and &se of Seal. - A duly licensed architect shall affi( the seal %rescribed by the
Board bearing the registrant.s na$e, registration nu$ber and title "Architect" on all architectural %lans, drawings,
s%ecifications and all other contract docu$ents %re%ared by or under his5her direct su%er&ision.
6ach registrant hereunder shall, u%on registration, obtain a seal of such design as the Board shall
authori#e and direct. Architectural %lans and s%ecifications %re%ared by, or under the direct su%er&ision of
a registered architect shall be sta$%ede with said seal during the life of the registrant.s certificate, and it
shall be unlawful for any one to sta$% or seal any docu$ents with said seal after the certificate of the
registrant na$ed thereon has e(%ired or has been re&oked, unless said certificate shall ha&e been
renewed or re-issued.
?2@ No officer or e5plo4ee of this Republic, chartered cities, %ro&inces and
$unici%alities, now or hereafter charged with the enforce5ent of law" ordinances or
regulations relating to the construction or alteration of buildings, shall accept or
appro6e an4 architectural plans or specifications which ha6e not been prepared and
sub5itted in full accord with all the pro6isions of this Act- nor shall an4 pa45ents
be appro6ed b4 an4 such officer for an4 wor8" the plans and specifications for which
ha6e not been so prepared and signed and sealed b4 the author.
*/, 8t shall be unlawful for any architect to sign his5her na$e, affi( his5her seal or use any other $ethod of
signature on architectural %lans, s%ecifications or other docu$ents $ade under another architect.s
su%er&ision, unless the sa$e is $ade in such $anner as to clearly indicate the %art or %arts of such work
actually %erfor$ed by the for$er, and it shall be unlawful for any %erson, e(ce%t the architect-of-record, to
sign for any branch of work for any function of architectural %ractice, not actually %erfor$ed by hi$5her.
The architect-of-record shall be fully res%onsible for all architectural %lans, s%ecifications and other
docu$ents issued under his5her seal or authori#ed signature.
?$@ (rawings and specifications dul4 signed" sta5ped or sealed" as instru5ents of
ser6ice" are the intellectual properties and docu5ents of the architect" whether the
ob:ect for which the4 are 5ade is e=ecuted or not" 't shall be unlawful for an4 person"
without the consent of the architect or author of said docu5ents" to duplicate or to 5a8e copies of
said docu5ents for use in the repetition of and for other pro:ects or buildings" whether e=ecuted
partl4 or in whole.
?0@ All architectural plans" designs" specifications" drawings and architectural
docu5ents relati6e to the construction of a building shall bear the seal and
signature onl4 of an architect registered and licensed under this Act together with
his;her professional identification card nu5ber and the date of its e=piration.
ART'C.+ '&
PRACT'C+ %* ARC,'T+CT-R+
S+CT'%N 20. Registration of Architects Re'uired. - No person shall practice architecture in this
countr4" or engage in preparing architectural plans" specification or preli5inar4 data for
the erection or alteration of an4 building located within the boundaries of this countr4 or
use the title 3Architect"3 or displa4 or use an4 title" sign" card" ad6ertise5ent" or other
de6ice to indicate such person practices or offers to practice architecture" or is an
architect" unless such person shall ha6e recei6ed fro5 the /oard a Certificate of
Registration and be issued a Professional 'dentification Card in the 5anner hereinafter
pro6ided and shall thereafter co5pl4 with the pro6isions of this Act.
A foreign architect or an4 person not authoriAed to practice architecture in the Philippines,
who shall sta4 in the countr4 and perfor5 an4 of the acti6ities 5entioned in Sections 7 and
$ of this Act , or an4 other acti6it4 analogous thereto" in connection with the construction of
an4 building;structure;edifice or land de6elop5ent pro:ect" shall be dee5ed engaged in the
unauthoriAed practice of architecture. (((
S+CT'%N 29. Prohibition in the Practice of Architecture and Penal (lause. - An4 person who shall
practice or offer to practice architecture in the Philippines without being
registered;licensed and who are not holders of te5porar4 or special per5its in accordance
with the pro6isions of this Act, or any %erson %resenting or atte$%ting to use as his5her own the 3ertificate
of 9egistration50rofessional 8dentification 3ard or seal of another or te$%orary or s%ecial %er$it, or any %erson
who shall gi&e any false or forged e&idence of any kind to the Board or to any $e$ber thereof in obtaining a
3ertificate of 9egistration50rofessional 8dentification 3ard or te$%orary or s%ecial %er$it, or any %erson who shall
falsely i$%ersonate any registrant of like or different na$e, or any %erson who shall atte$%t to use a re&oked or
sus%ended 3ertificate of 9egistration50rofessional 8dentification 3ard or cancelled s%ecial5te$%orary %er$it, or
an4 person who shall use in connection with his;her na5e or otherwise assu5e" use or
ad6ertise an4 title or description tending to con6e4 the i5pression that he;she is an
architect when he;she is not an architect" or an4 person whether *ilipino or foreigner" who
8nowingl4 allows the use" adoption" i5ple5entation of plans" designs or specification
5ade b4 an4 person" fir5" partnership or co5pan4 not dul4 licensed to engage in the
practice of architecture" or an4 person who shall 6iolate an4 of the pro6isions of this Act"
its i5ple5enting rules and regulations" the Code of +thical Conduct and Standards of
Professional Practice" or an4 polic4 of the /oard and the Co55ission" shall be guilt4 of
5isde5eanor and charged in court b4 the Co55ission and shall" upon con6iction be
sentenced to a fine of not less than %ne hundred thousand pesos ?P##"###.##@ but not
5ore than *i6e Million pesos ?P0"###"###"##@ or to suffer i5prison5ent for a period not
less than si= ?6@ 5onths or not e=ceeding si= ?6@ 4ears" or both" at the discretion of the
Court.
S+CT'%N 7#. Prohibition in the Practice of Architecture. - Any %erson or entity, whether %ublic or %ri&ate,
:ili%ino or foreigner, who5which shall entice, co$%el, coerce, re)uire or otherwise force an architect registered and
licensed under this Act to undertake5%erfor$ any ser&ice under the general %ractice of architecture as defined
under this Act, without first e(ecuting a written contract5ser&ice agree$ent, shall be guilty of a $isde$eanor and
shall, u%on con&iction be sentenced to a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand %esos *02,., or to
suffer i$%rison$ent for a %eriod not e(ceeding si( *;, years, or both, at the discretion of the 3ourt.
S+CT'%N 7. )iabilit of Re*resentatives of Non+Registered Persons. - 8t shall be unlawful for any %erson or
fir$ or cor%oration to seek to a&oid the %ro&isions of this Act by ha&ing a re%resentati&e or e$%loyee seek
architectural work in their behalf, unless and until, such %ersons ha&e duly )ualified and are duly
registered5licensed, otherwise, both those re%resented and re%resentati&e, the e$%loyer and the e$%loyee shall
be dee$ed guilty of &iolation of this Act. "olicitation of architectural work shall be construed as offering to %ractice
architecture and shall be unlawful for any non-registered and unlicensed %ersons to do so.
S+CT'%N 72. Signing of Architectural Plans$ S*ecifications and ,ther (ontract Documents. - 8t shall be
unlawful for any architect to sign his5her na$e, affi( his5her seal, or use any other $ethod of signature or
architectural %lans, s%ecifications or other contract docu$ents $ade under another architect.s su%er&ision, unless
the sa$e is $ade in such $anner as to clearly indicate the %art or %arts of such work actually %erfor$ed by the
for$er- and shall be unlawful for any %erson, e(ce%t the Architect-of record shall be fully res%onsible for all
architectural %lans, s%ecifications, and other docu$ents issued under his5her seal or authori#ed signature.
The Board shall $ake all the necessary rules and regulations with regards to the signing and sealing of drawings,
s%ecifications, re%orts, and other docu$ents.
S+CT'%N 77. ,!nershi* of Plans$ S*ecifications and other (ontract Documents. - (rawings and
specifications and other contract docu5ents dul4 signed" sta5ped or sealed" as instru5ents of ser6ice"
are the intellectual propert4 and docu5ents of the architect" whether the ob:ect for which the4 are 5ade is
e=ecuted or not. 8t shall be unlawful for any %erson to du%licate or to $ake co%ies of said docu$ents for use in
the re%etition of and for other %ro1ects or buildings, whether e(ecuted %artly or in whole, without the written
consent of architect or author of said docu$ents.
All architects shall incor%orate this %ro&ision in all contract docu$ents and other instru$ents of ser&ice.
S+CT'%N 7$. Non+Registered Person Shall Not (laim -'uivalent Service. - Persons not registered as
an architect shall not clai5 nor represent either ser6ices or wor8 as eBui6alent to those of
a dul4 Bualified registered architect" or that the4 are Bualified for an4 branch or functions
of function of architectural practice" e6en though no for5 of the title 3Architect3 is used.
S+CT'%N 70. Positions in .overnment Re'uiring the Services of Registered and )icensed Architects. -
1ithin ?7@ 4ears fro5 the effecti6it4 of this Act" all e=isting and proposed positions in the
local and national go6ern5ent" whether career" per5anent" te5porar4 or contractual and
pri5aril4 reBuiring the ser6ices of an architect shall be filled onl4 b4 registered and
licensed architects.
S+CT'%N 76. (ollection of Professional "ees. - 8t shall be unlawful for any unregistered %erson to collect a fee
for architectural ser&ices e=cept as an e$%loyee collecting a fee as re%resentati&e of a 9egistered Architect.
S+CT'%N 7!. )imitation to the Registration of a "irm$ (om*an$ Partnershi*$ (or*oration or Association. -
The %ractice of architecture is a %rofessional ser&ice, ad$ission to which shall be deter$ined u%on the basis of
indi&idual %ersonal )ualifications. 'owe&er, a fir$, co$%any, %artnershi%, cor%oration or association 5a4 be
registered or licensed as such for the %ractice of architecture under the following conditions:
*a, <nly :ili%ino citi#ens %ro%erly registered and licensed as architects under this Act $ay, a$ong
the$sel&es, or together with allied technical %rofessionals, for$ and obtain registration as a fir$,
co$%any, %artnershi%, association or cor%oration for the %ractice of architecture-
*b, 9egistered and licensed architects shall co$%ose at least se6ent49fi6e percent ?!0C@ of the owners"
shareholders" 5e5bers incorporators" directors" e=ecuti6e officers, as the case $ay be-
*c, 8ndi&idual $e$bers of such fir$, %artnershi% association or cor%oration shall be res%onsible for their
indi&idual and collecti&e acts as an entity and as %ro&ided by law-
*d, "uch fir$, %artnershi%, association or cor%oration shall be registered with the "ecurities and 6(change
3o$$ission and Board.
S+CT'%N 7D. (overage of Tem*orar/S*ecial Permits. - :oreign nationals who ha&e gained entry in the
0hili%%ines to %erfor$ %rofessional ser&ices as architects or consultants in foreign-funded or assisted %ro1ects of
the go&ern$ent or e$%loyed or engaged by :ili%ino or foreign contractors or %ri&ate fir$s, shall, before assu$ing
the duties, functions and res%onsibilities as architects or consultants, secure a s%ecial5te$%orary %er$it fro$ the
Board sub1ect to a%%ro&al of the 3o$$ission. To %ractice his5her %rofession in connection with the %ro1ect to
which he5she was co$$issioned: 0ro&ided, That a foreign national or foreign fir$, whose na$e or co$%any
na$e, with title architect, architectural consultant, design consultant, consultant or designer a%%ear on
architectural %lans, s%ecifications and other related construction docu$ents, for securing buildings %er$its,
licenses and go&ern$ent authority clearances for actual building %ro1ect construction in the 0hili%%ines and
ad&ertise$ent and billboards for $arketing %ur%oses, shall be dee$ed %racticing architecture in the 0hili%%ines,
whether the contract for %rofessional ser&ices is consu$$ated in the 0hili%%ines or in a foreign country: 0ro&ided,
further, That the following conditions are satisfied as follows:
*a, That he5she is a citi#en or sub1ect of a country which s%ecifically per5its :ili%ino %rofessionals to
%ractice his5her %rofession within their territorial li$its, on the sa$e basis as the sub1ects or citi#ens of
such foreign state or country-
*b, That he5she is legall4 Bualified to practice architecture in his;her own countr4, and that his;her
e=pertise is necessar4 and ad6antageous to our countr4 %articularly in the as%ects of technology
transfer and s%eciali#ation-
?c@ That foreign nationals shall be reBuired to wor8 with a *ilipino counterpart and shall also be
res%onsible for %ublic utilities and ta(es due to the 0hili%%ine go&ern$ent, relati&e to their %artici%ation in,
or %rofessional ser&ices rendered to the %ro1ect, in accordance with the established i$%le$enting rules
and regulations %ro&iding for the %rocedure for the registration and5or issuance of te$%orary5s%ecial
%er$its to foreign architects allowed by law to %ractice their %rofession in the 0hili%%ines by the Board of
Architecture and the accredited %rofessional organi#ation- and
?d@ Agencies" organiAations or indi6iduals" whether public or pri6ate" who secure the ser6ices of
foreign professional authoriAed b4 law to practice in the Philippines for reasons afore5entioned"
shall be responsible for securing a special per5it fro5 the Professional Regulation Co55ission
?PRC@ and the (epart5ent of .abor and +5plo45ent ?(%.+@ pursuant to PRC and (%.+ rules.
S+CT'%N 79. )iabilit %nsurance of a Person or -ntit Allo!ed to Practice under a Tem*orar/S*ecial
Permit. - :oreign nationals, including for$er :ili%inos wanting to engage in the general %ractice of architecture as
defined in Section 7 *c, of this Act $ust secure locally their %rofessional liabilit4 insurance or 5alpractice
insurance or their acceptable eBui6alent in bond for5 co$$ensurate with the nature and $agnitude of their
%ro1ect in&ol&e$ent and their co$%ensation the i$%le$enting rules and regulations for such a re)uire$ent for
%ractice shall be i$%le$ented by the Board in consultation with the integrated and accredited %rofessional
organi#ation of architects within si( *;, $onths fro$ the effecti&ity of this Act.
ART'C.+ &
*inal Pro6isions ===
S+CT'%N $$. -nforcement of the Act. - 8t shall be the pri5ar4 dut4 of the Co55ission and the /oard to
effecti6el4 enforce the pro6ision of this Act. All dul4 constituted law enforce5ent agencies and
officers of national" pro6incial" cit4 or 5unicipal go6ern5ent or of an4 political subdi6ision
thereof" shall" upon the call or reBuest of the Co55ission or the /oard" render assistance
in enforcing the pro6isions of this Act and to prosecute an4 person 6iolating the pro6isions of the
sa5e. The Secretar4 of Eustice or his duly designated re%resentati&e shall act as legal ad6iser to the
Co55ission and the /oard and shall render legal assistance as 5a4 be necessar4 in carrying out the
%ro&isions of this Act.
Any %erson $ay bring before the Co55ission" /oard or the afore5entioned officers of the
law, cases of illegal practice or 6iolations of this Act co55itted b4 an4 person or part4.
The /oard shall assist the Co55ission in filing the appropriate charges through the
concerned prosecution office in accordance with law and the 9ules of 3ourt. %emphases and
underscorin$ supplied by the "!BoA&
A%%ro&ed,
*RAN2.'N (R'.%N
0resident of the "enate

E%S+ (+ &+N+C'A ER.
"%eaker of the 'ouse of
9e%resentati&es
This Act which is a consolidation of 'ouse Bill =o. 2/>? and "enate Bill =o. 24+ was finally %assed by the 'ouse
of 9e%resentati&es and the "enate on January 2> 2! and January 2?, 2!, res%ecti&ely.
%SCAR ). <A/+S
"ecretary of "enate
R%/+RT% P. NAFAR+N%
"ecretary @eneral
'ouse of 9e%resentati&es
A%%ro&ed: March +4, 2!
).%R'A MACAPA)A.9ARR%<%
"resident of the "hilippines